Reusable type hose coupling



Dec. 30, 1947. 55 2,433,602

' REUSABLE TYPE HOSE COUPLING Filed March 26-, 1947 EVE/77E? Patented Dec. 30, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE' REUSABLE TYPE nosr: COUPLING George R. Coss, St. Clair Shores, Mich., asslgnor to Flex-O-Tube Company, Detroit, Mich., a. core poration of Illinois Application March 26, 1947, Serial No. 737,228

readily-removed for reuse on another piece of' hose. i

' Another object is to provide a hose coupling which is adapted to be applied to the end of a flexible hose or tube by slipping the end portion of the hose onto the nipple of the coupling member, assembling a grommet type resilient annulus on the nipple to eifect a clamping grip upon the hose end and then completing the attachment of the coupling to the hose by assembling a spring retainer ring in a peripheral groove of the annulus to effect a clamping grip through the annulus upon the hose end, the pressure of the broad surfaces of the annulus affording a non-slipping and leakproof connection of the hose end with the coupling.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hose coupling including only a single machined part and arranged to be assembled in such a manner that, as an incident to securing the hose to the coupling member, a rubber-against-rubber clamping surface prevents the hose from slipping oil the coupling member. I

Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel hose coupling for flexible tubing or hose in which the clamping force of a split metal ring is transmitted by a broad resilient annulus to the end of the hose, whereby any slight variations in dimensions or irregularities of the coupling member or hose will not interfere with leakproof and non-slipping coupling.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent from vention preferably comprises a tubular body part I having a nipple l I with a peripheral protuberance or flange I! at the end thereof, the nipple ll being adapted to receive the end portion of a flexible hose iii.

A grommet type rubber annulus I4 is stretched over the protuberance l2 and clamps the end portion of the hose l3. The annulus M has a central peripheral groove l5 adapted to receive a split spring metal retainer ring 16 for clamping the hose end portion, into a non-slipping, leakproof assembly with the nipple II. The body l0 and-clamping members l4 and [6 are readily separable to release the flexible hose l3 when it is desired to reuse the coupling on another hose. The present coupling is especially valuable for use with soft rubber hose.

The coupling body l0 includes a lateral intermediate flange ll having conventional wrench I faces thereon and from the side of which flange opposite the nipple II exends an externally threaded stem iii. The bore of the coupling body Ill, identified at l9, may be of substantially the same diameter as the bore 20 of the hose l2.

The flange ll provides an annular shoulder 2| against which the hose l3 and annulus l4 abut and which may form a portion of the sealing surface between the hose and the coupling body ill. The width of the annulus i4 is so proportioned that when it contracts into the groove between the protuberance flange l2 and the shoulder 2i one end rests against the shoulder 2| and the other end engages the end portion 22 of the hose l3 immediately inwardly of the protuberance l2. The annulus I4 is preferably formed to have an inner diameter approximately equal to the outer diameter of the hose l3 so that when it is applied to the expanded end portion of the v hose on the nipple l I, it exertsa resilient clamp ing pressure thereon.

The end of the annulus l4 adjacent the shoulder 2i tends to flatten when the spring retainer ring i6 is placed in'clamping relation therearound, tending to provide a further seal for the coupling.

As indicated in Figure 2, there is a broad contact surfacebetween the annulus l4 and the end portion 22 of the hose 13 so as to ensure nonslipping. The protuberance l2 prevents the annulus H from slipping oif the nipple with the hose, and thereby effects an interlock for the hose end in co-operation with the annulus.

In assembling the coupling of my invention, the split ring [6 and annulus l4 may be slipped on to the free end of a hose l3 which is to be coupled tion.

3 with the body It. The end portion 22 of the hose is then stretched and slipped over the protuberance l2 onto the nipple H of the body, the end 7 of the hose resting snugly against the shoulder 2| the flange II. The annulus I4 is then stretched overthe protuberance 12 to abut against, the

flange shoulder 2 l the spring retainer ring, which 7 is split, as indicated at 23, is then expanded to fit over the nipple and bulged portion of the hose and into the annular'peripheral groove ii in the central portion of the annulus ll. Contraction of the spring retainer ring l8 forces the annulus ll even more firmly against the end portion 22 of the hose than results from the natural resilience of the annulus and the greater width of the annulus distributes the clamping pressure of the ring I! over the contact area oi the hose end to hold it in non-slipping leakproof coupling with the body portion Hi.

It will be appreciated that slight variations in the dimensions of the hose coupling are readily compensated for by virtue of my flexible arrangement.

The clamping means or my invention are sufflciently resilient to give" when swelling occurs without injuring the hose and still maintain a constant clamping action to prevent leakage. This advantage may be enhanced by employing a rubber annulus which is made of the same compound as the hose and will therefore expand and contract proportionately when subjected to fluids or conditions that cause swelling and contraction. The metallic ring assures increased and substantially uniform clamping ac- A further advantage of my coupling is that a swivel type connector need not be'employed on either end of the hose to apply the hose assembly between two fixed members.. A swivel type connector is ordinarily used to prevent twisting the hose unless it happens that one end of the hose assembly is screwed onto a'small unit that can be rotated conveniently. I

In myinvention one end of the hose may be connected by means of a threaded coupling to one of the fixed members turning the hose with the coupling so that, the hose is not twisted. Thereafter the other end or the hose may be applied without turning to the novel coupling body or my invention. A readily attachable and detachable connection is thus effected without the use of swivel type connectors.

Should it become desirable to remove the hose l3, all that need be done is to expand the retainer ring it and withdraw it from the groove I! over the protuberance I2 onto the hose 13. The annulus I4 is then expanded and likewise withdrawn over the protuberance l2 onto the hose ll,

4 I claim as my invention: i 1. In combination in a flexible-hose coupling. a coupling body having a nipple with a protuberance at the end thereof adapted to receive an end portion of a hose, a contractile anni'ilar member having a peripheral annular groove therein and fitting clampingly about said end portion inwardly of said protuberance, and a split resilient retainer ring contracted into said groove for resiliently increasing the clamping action of the annular member upon the end portion or said hose on said nipple.

2. In combination in a reusable hose coupling, a coupling body including a nipple adapted to receive an end portion of a hose, a rubber annulus adapted to fit over said end portion of the hose to retain it on the nipple, and a resilient member fitting about said rubber annulus to retain it in place.

3. In combination in a flexible hose and coupling assembly of the character described; a coupling body having a peripherally flanged nipple adapted to receive an end portion of the hose stretched thereover. a'resilient member overlying said end portion of said hose inwardly oi the nipple flange, and resilient means clamping said member against the end portion of said hose, whereby to prevent slipping of said hose end portion over said flange.

4. In combination in a hose and coupling assembly, a flexible hose, a coupling body having an end portion of the hose slipped thereover, a first annular resilient member surrounding the end so that the end portion 22 of the hose may then be pulled free. The coupling may then be reused..

not the purpose to limit the patent granted here- 7 on otherwise than necessitatedv by the scope of the appended claims.

portion of the hose and having a peripheralannular groove, and a second resilient member in said groove and clamping said first resilient member against th end portion of said hose.

5. In combination in a hose coupling, a member constructed and arranged to engage within' an end portion of a flexible hose, a resilient member surrounding said end portion of said hose, and a clamping member urging said resilient member against said hose end portion.

6. In combination in a reusable hose coupling, a coupling body having a flange providing a shoulder and a nipple extending from said shoulder, said nipple having an annular protuberance at the end thereof and adapted to receivean end portion of a hose stretched over said protuberance and lying between said shoulder and said protuberance, a rubber annulus adapted to stretch over said protuberance and overlie the end portion of said hose, and a split metal retain- ,er ring adapted to engage said annulus for clamping action thereagainst to hold said hose on said nipple.

I. In combination in a hose coupling, a coupling body constructed and arranged toengage within as end portion of a flexible rubber hose, and a resilient retaining member made of a rubber compound having similar expansion and contraction characteristics a those of said hose surrounding a substantial part of said end portion of said 'hose and acting to clamp it to said body.

8. In a combination in a hose coupling, a tubular coupling body having a flange providing a shoulder and a nipple extending from said shoulder, said nipple having an annular protuberance at an end thereof for receiving an end portion of a hose stretched over said protuberance and lying between said shoulder and said protuberanoe, an annulus of resiliently yieldable. material so as to be stretched over and beyond said protuberance to overlie the end portion of said hose between the protuberance and shoulder, and a metal retainer ring engaging the periphery of said annulus for both laterally and radially flowing the material of the annulus on the nipple to fasten the hose end in place on the nipple.

9. In combination in a hose coupling, a tubular coupling body having an external flange and an adjoining protuberance receiving an end of a hose including a portion lying between said flange and said protuberance and a portion overlying said protuberance, and an annulus of resilient material overlying the hose ,partion between said flange and said protuberance and retaining the hose end on said body by laterally expansive wedging action between said flange and said protuberance and against a part of the hose portion overlying said protuberance.

10. In a hose coupling structure including a tubular nipple having an enlarged protuberance over which the hose end is stretched and a shouldered flange portion for receiving the hose end, an annulus of resiliently yieldable material lying between the protuberance and the flange shoulder after having been stretched over the protuberance, and means for exerting a radially inward compressive force against the annulus for flowing the material of the same tightly against the hose end on the flang portion and for laterally wedging the annulus between said shoulder and protuberance whereby said hose end is tightly locked to the nipple without mechanical indentation of the hose. I

GEORGE R. COSS. 

